Latest update: 18/03/2010

- Barack Obama - healthcare reform - insurance - USA

Too poor to be poorly: uninsured Americans hope healthcare bill will be passed

The final touches have been made to Barack Obama's flagship policy on healthcare reform and the bill is now ready to go before the House of Representatives. The proposals have received staunch opposition from Republicans, but if passed, the new law will extend insurance coverage to 30 million Americans - many of whom simply can't afford to be ill.

FOCUS

23/05/2012 - CANADA

Students in Quebec march against tuition fee hike

Student protests in the Canadian province Quebec are into their fourth month. Hundreds were arrested at marches to mark 100 days since the protests began. Students are demonstrating against an 80 percent rise in tuition fees in Quebec, the Canadian province that has until now enjoyed the country's lowest rates for higher education.

23/05/2012 - EGYPT

Egyptians head to the polls

Egyptians go to the polls in the country's first truly contested presidential election on Wednesday. With an array of candidates to choose from, voters will decide who's the best man to lead them through the last phase of the country's troubled democratic transition that began with Egypt's revolution in January last year. Cairo correspondents Kathryn Stapley and Sonia Dridi talked to some of the activists whose protests in Tahrir Square changed the course of Egypt's history.

22/05/2012 - EGYPT

A troubling time for Egypt's Coptic Christians

Egyptians go to the polls tomorrow to vote for a new president for the first time since Hosni Mubarak was ousted during the revolution last year. Two of the front-runners in the presidential race with a realistic chance of winning are devout Islamists, which is troubling for Egypt's Coptic Christians. They are Egypt's largest religious minority and many of them don't think any of the candidates are capable of protecting them from the religious violence that has been steadily increasing.

22/05/2012 - WEST BANK

'The Battle of the Empty Stomachs'

Palestinians nicknamed it "the battle of the empty stomachs". For weeks, 1,600 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails refused food and drink in what became the longest ever mass hunger strike. Israel finally capitulated and a deal was reached, allowing those in isolation back onto the general wards, and visas for those family members wishing to visit from Gaza. In exchange, prisoners agreed not to carry out "security activities" such as recruiting for terrorist missions.

21/05/2012 - SERBIA

Serbia's new president - nationalist or not?

Serbia has elected a new president - and it's not the one that most people were expecting. Tomislav Nikolic has unseated Boris Tadic, the man in power since 2004. Observers are worried about the new head of state, who used to be part of the ultra-nationalist Radical Party. He once said he would prefer to be allied with Russia than join the EU, but he has since toned down the rhetoric, saying he will take Serbia to Europe after all.

Comments (3)

U.S. Healthcare

by Anonyme - 22/03/2010 - 04:20

What's wrong with the U.S. Healthcare program is it's set up on a "for profit" business basis. 40% of the money paid into private "for profit" insurance goes into somebodies pocket. This is easily shown by comparing the GNP. The UK spends about 8% of their GNP on national healthcare and they cover everyone. The U.S. spends 15% of their GNP on healthcare and they don't cover everyone. That's what will be bankrupt the U.S.

The private insurance companies in the U.S. are against national healthcare and try to scare the public into believing the government is taking their freedom away.

report abuse

Not all poor in US in favor of healthcare

by Anonyme - 21/03/2010 - 02:37

A lot of us believe nationalizing healthcare is against the constitution and is going to further bankrupt the nation with yet another entitlement program it can not afford.

report abuse

Medicaid and Medicare

by Anonyme - 19/03/2010 - 04:26

Why was there no mention of Medicaid? American citizens who are unemployed qualify for state Medicaid programs. Why did this program not mention that? Further, why did it not mention the biggest criticism conservatives have been raising against a federal plan? That they ideologically disagree with it?

The current system needs reform, but it is those who are working and unable to afford good insurance due to prexisting conditions or other reasons that are the most vulnerable. There is a gap between the working middle class and poor who could use some help but do not qualify and the poor and elderly who already qualify for medicare and medicaid.

report abuse